Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Not all Chennaites are used
to travelling by train – me too, started travelling by train, only
recently. I personally feel, that the
fare of Rs.5/- is too low – and that of
the season ticket – (monthly from Chennai Beach to Velachery) costs only Rs.120/- - some of the Season ticket holders in the
hush and puff realise after getting into the train that their pass had expired
already – some might get down at the next station, walk to the counter to renew the pass for
another month ………..

A couple of months back,
Railways introduced an unwanted procedure – of a Declaration to be given to
Railways along with a copy of valid ID – the
format – yes, in fact an Undertaking by Season Ticket Holders that they
would follow the Season Ticket rules and will not indulge in any anti social /
unlawful activities or commit any offence under IPC or Railway Act while
availing the Season ticket……………………………… and a question ‘purpose of travel’ –
much like an Insurance proposal form – what impact will the answer make ? be it
pleasure, office, study or ……. Something else ! The
format extracted from Season Ticket Rules of Railways effective May 2007 was
intriguing to say the lease.

Season tickets are issued
for suburban as well as non-suburban sections. Fares for Second Class MST is
equivalent to the fares for 15 single journeys by second class (Ordinary)
uniformly for all distances. Fares for First class MST is four times the Second Class MST fares. Season
tickets to children are issued at half of the adult season ticket fare.
Quarterly Season tickets are charged at 2.7 times of the normal adult/child MST
fare. Season tickets are issued for First and Second classes only and these
tickets are valid in the class for which they are issued. Only one season
ticket is issued to a passenger to travel between the stations serving his
place of residence and place of work/studies. If the passenger is found with
more than one season ticket to flout the distance limits, the additional season
ticket will be treated as invalid. First class season ticket holders are not
allowed to travel in AC coaches. Season tickets are issued upto 150 Kms. only.

Irate customers would often
argue with officials in the counter on the need for submitting the form for
every renewal too………… taking hint perhaps, Southern
Railway has decided to scrap the procedure of filling up of forms while
applying for or renewing season tickets.

“We have
stopped issuing the forms which we introduced in August. Commuters no longer
need to provide their personal details and address while renewing their
monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual season tickets,” officials of the
commercial department of Southern Railway said. The new arrangement is much
simpler and commuters only have to produce a copy of an identity proof at the
time of applying for a season ticket for the first time. The proof is returned
and the commuter has to carry it along with the season ticket. There is no need
to produce a photo ID proof while renewing the season ticket, a staff at one of
the MRTS stations said. However, while applying for renewal at a station other
than the one from where the original season ticket was bought, commuters need
to show their photo to ticketing staff at the counter.